The Seed Blog: Heaven and New Jerusalem

We have spent 4 months going through the entire Book of Revelation!
From the Rapture...
To the Tribulation...
To the Thousand Year Millennium on earth...
To the Great White Throne Judgment
 
Where ALL is made NEW at time sin is destroyed! To make all New BEFORE this Moment would have been useless!
 
SO AT THIS MOMENT... IS WHERE WE WILL PICK UP AGAIN THIS WEEK!

All evil and sin has been Judged and removed...
All of the Original Creation tainted and affected by this sin has been made completely NEW...
 
NOW... God will Establish His Permanent Home...WITH His people... FOR ETERNITY...
 
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING JESUS SUFFERED AND DIED TO BRING TO FRUITION!! We will watch the entire Bible come FULL CIRCLE...
 
To the restoration ALL THINGS as they were...BEFORE SIN TAINTED CREATION!
 
 NOW... After enduring many passages of difficulty, Judgment and destruction...
We get to some of the most astounding, joyful, anticipated Verses of the entire Bible!!! The "Happily Ever After" of the Greatest Love Story ever!
 
There are so many things Scriptures reveal about Heaven...Which many people do not even realize are made known...And so many misconceptions about the few things many DO KNOW...That I usually take about 3 weeks JUST to explain them all! But... We have spent so many weeks on this Study...That we will give only a summary of the many FACTS we DO KNOW...And if this entices you to know more... Please refer back to the "Heaven Series" which we explored just a year and a half ago!
 
So let's delve into the last Passages of Revelation together...And unlock their Beautiful Story as they are Written! Answering as many questions as possible along the way!
 
The City... "I Make ALL Things New!"
 
Start with THIS:Remove any and all preconceived ideas you may have had about Heaven! We do NOT live forever somewhere "Up There" in the clouds... Or in another dimension! We do NOT live as disembodied spirits, we don't have wings... And we do NOT become angels...
 
Heaven is a Literal Place... We have Literal Bodies... And we live unimaginable lives similar to... But incomparably BETTER than NOW!
 
Misconceptions on this are why so many people hesitate to even want Jesus to come back...Because HONESTLY... We LOVE this life and creation...
And the thought of losing ALL OF THIS...For a life as a spirit in the clouds is somewhat sad! Do you know WHY? BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE WERE MADE TO LOVE AND DESIRE! THIS…WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR PARADISE BEFORE SIN!
 
Let’s start at the beginning of Revelation 21:
 
Revelation 21:1 (NKJV)
1  Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
 
The Greek word term for "passed away" does not mean simply changed! The earth received a "renovation" during the Millennium...BUT HERE... All things are made completely NEW... FRESH... DIFFERENT! 2 Peter 3:12-13 reveals that the old Heavens and Earth will completely "Melt away" into nothing...This has been revealed to men since 1000 years before Christ was on earth!
 
Psalm 102:25-26 (NKJV)
25  Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26  They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. 
(Perish... Here means Completely UNDONE!)
 
Do you realize that is was not until the last century of mankind's existence..
That we discovered the entire Universe was winding down? "Waxing Old!" The term "New Heavens and New Earth" refer to all that was Created by God in the beginning! Our planet, our upper atmosphere, and the Universe in which they we contained...NOT Heaven where God Exists NOW!  Which was NOT part of the tainted Creation which began in Genesis!
 
"And there was no more sea..." Does NOT mean there will be no vast bodies of water! It simply means there will be no dirty, violent, dividing oceans between the continents as there are today!
 
Revelation 22 and Isaiah 47 speak of a Crystal Clear River running from Our King's Throne forever...This River will obviously empty into a large body of water!
But the new, fresh, non-violent oceans of water there...Will not be anything like the dividing, violent "Seas" of this world!
 
These Verses... And many like them...Help us to understand this will NOT be a remake of the earth we have today... One which has been shaped by catastrophe, Judgment and sin... It will be completely new in size, topography and wonder...Holding all of the goodness the original earth was created to contain...But new... And gloriously improved!
 
Listen to this breathtaking moment...When we will first see this "Place Prepared for us by Jesus Christ Himself!"
 
Revelation 21:2-5 (NKJV)
2  Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5  Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
 
NOTICE... These Verses say that Christ will come down to earth...And make His Tabernacle WITH men...And DWELL WITH them!
 
Our Home in Heaven above was but a temporary dwelling place while we waited for THIS Moment! NOW... Jesus has restored all things... Made All Things NEW! And WE will dwell in Paradise ON EARTH... JUST as God Originally Planned for US! THAT IS WHY WE OFTEN FEEL SOMEWHAT APPREHENSIVE ABOUT HEAVEN!
 
Because so many times…We have been led to believe we will be leaving all of this wondrous creation behind when we get there! Absolutely NOT... THIS IS the world God Created for us to crave and enjoy!! Heaven will be just like it... Magnified unimaginably! We are not escaping this material world to live in spirit...This Creation... And mankind... Will be remade in perfection!
 
We can more realistically imagine this incredible scene as New Jerusalem descends to earth...Listen to John as he describes It's size...
 
Revelation 21:15-16 (NKJV)
15  And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16  The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.
 
This is equivalent to approximately 1500 square miles in length, breadth and height!! Just like the dimensions of the Holy of Holies…Where God dwelt in the Tabernacle and the Temple before Christ's Sacrifice! Where only the High Priest could enter... Until Jesus' Death tore the Veil! Now… WE will live IN that Holy of Holies with Him!
 
In the U.S...It would cover from the Canadian Border to the bottom of Texas...
From the East Coast to Wyoming!
 
If we were to literally see it coming down...It would not be a City in the distance descending to earth...It would fill the sky as far as you could see in either direction! And as far up as you could see into the sky! Until nothing was left in the distance...But the Clear Jasper Wall of this City... Stretching across the horizon as It touched down!
 
Listen to the Magnificent Splendor of the Construction...Of this City Jesus went to Prepare for US!
 
Revelation 21:10-14 (NKJV)
10  And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11  having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12  Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13  three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14  Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
 
Revelation 21:17-26 (NKJV)
17  Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18  The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19  The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalce’dony, the fourth emerald, 20  the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21  The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22  But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23  The CITY had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24  And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25  Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26  And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
 
So this City which stretches beyond sight in all directions... Has walls made of pure crystal Jasper...Which are over 200 feet in thickness (2/3 Football field)!
Allowing the Glorious Light of Christ to shine through for the nations to see!
 
(Imagine the spectrum of color in the sky!)
 
These walls rest upon a foundation which is stories tall...Built of 12 layers...
Each layers engraved with one of the 12 Apostles of Christ! Proof there were ONLY 12 Apostles!
 
Each inlaid with countless precious gemstones...One stone to represents each of the 12 Tribes of Israel...Just as they were represented on the High Priest's Breastplate as he served God on their behalf!

Twelve Gates surrounding the City... Each made of one single enormous Pearl! Opening a distance apart which is equivalent to a day's drive! Each Gate engraved with the name of one of the 12 Tribes of Israel...Who would encamp surrounding the Tabernacle of God in Moses' day!
 
After climbing the steps of these 12 Foundations...And entering the "Pearly Gate"...And walking through the 200 foot thick Crystal Wall...You will see a City that stretches beyond sight...Made of Clear Gold! All lit by the Majestic Brilliance of Jesus Christ Himself...As It shines throughout the 1500 square mile City!
 
Revelation 22:1-5, 14 (NKJV)
1  And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2  In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3  And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4  They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5  There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever... 14  Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
 
The River of Life flows from Jesus' very Throne...Down the center of the main street of the City...Watering the Trees of Life...Which extended on either side of It's banks!
These Trees bear 12 kinds of fruit SEASONALLY! This Fruit is for the healing of the Nations!
 
Common Questions Answered!
 
Just based upon what we have read here...Let's answer some questions and clear some misconceptions about Heaven!
 
#1 - Will we remember our past in Heaven?Will we know each other when we get there?
 
My mom use to always say, "I hope God let's us remember each other when we get there!" Many feel we will be like bystanders on Men In Black! "Look at this little red light for a minute!"...And they say it must be that we don't remember this life...Otherwise, "How could we ever be truly joyful with our memories?!"
 
Listen to these indisputable reasons why we...CANNOT LOSE OUR MEMORY OF OUR PAST OR ONE ANOTHER!
 
Revelation 6:10 showed those martyred for Christ...Asking, "How long before You Avenge us?"
 
How could we possibly remain the individuals God created us to be...Without our memories, experiences and friendships of the past? Why would God work in our lives to grow us into selflessness, righteousness and real love... Just to erase all that work? How could we possibly worship, praise and thank Jesus for all He did for us... If we do not remember who we were?...And what he did to Save us?! Why would Jesus carry the very Scars of His horrible Death as a Trophy of Remembrance and Victory? If we do not know why they are there? Why would He reward us with Robes of Righteousness, Crowns of Award, and places of honor...For things we cannot remember?
 
Why are the very Foundations of the City...And the Gates of the Walls...Engraved with the names of the Tribes of Israel and the Apostles...If we won't even know why?
Why would David, upon losing his newborn son, say:"I will go to him, but he shall not return to me?"...If he was not even going to recognize his son?
 
It is a solid, established fact... That we will have all of our experiences and memories from this life in the next!
 
#2 - So the next obvious question would be...
 
"How can we truly be joyful in Heaven...
Remembering the bad experiences and the lost loved ones?!"
 
Think… God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit... Even angels...
ALL have more memories of the evil done on earth than us! Even the evil done to THEM!  (Jesus Torture, Forsakenness & Death)
 
They have knowledge of those who are condemned...And they love the lost more than us!...And THEY are Joyful in Heaven!...How? ...Because it is not memory loss that brings peace and joy...That would in a sense... Even be a lie!
 
What brings peace and joy, even in the memories is…A true understanding of the evil of those lost...And the true nature of their unrepentant hearts...And the true understanding of what that sin and evil would do to Heaven if allowed!
 
A true understanding of the Way God used everything for His and our good in the end...And especially… The Joy of knowing we are forever safe and distant from these events! A true understanding of how much pain and rejection Jesus suffered in love for us... To pay for those sins WE were a part of on earth!
 
#3 - Will there be Time in Heaven? Day and Night? Seasons?
 
Many think Revelation 10:5-6 mean there will be no measure of time or seasons in Heaven!  "There should be time no longer!" This declaration by the angel was literally saying..."There will be no more delay... Your time is up!" It was not a reference to the actual dimension of time! On the contrary, there are several Verses of Scripture…Which solidify the fact that we will have time, days, night and even seasons!!! Just as now!
 
Revelation 8:1 (ESV)
1  When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (Time)
 
Revelation 21:(23-25 ESV)
23  And the CITY has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24  By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25  and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. (Day/Night)
 
Isaiah 66:22-23 (NKJV)
22  "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23  And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD. (Sun/Moon/Days)
 
Psalm 89:35-37 (NKJV)
35  Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: 36  His seed shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before Me; 37  It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky." Selah (Sun/Moon)
 
Revelation 22:2 (NKJV)
2  In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. (Seasons)
 
Remember sun, moon, days and nights were all part of the original plan...And they were called, "Very Good!" God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening!
 
#4 - Will we eat and drink in Heaven?Because Scriptures say, “We will never thirst or hunger again!”
 
That Verse (Rev 7:15-16)...Is talking of the martyrs of the Tribulation...Saying they will not suffer anymore as they did then! They won’t hunger or thirst because they WILL eat & drink! Proof? First.. let me ask you... "How do we benefit from the FRUIT of the TREE of LIFE! Second... Did Adam and Eve eat? Absolutely!
Eating is a pleasure as well as a sustenance!
 
Luke 22:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
 
Luke 24:40-43 (NKJV)
40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
 
Luke 22:29-30 (NKJV)
29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
 
Haven't tasted, smelled or heard the sweetest things in life yet!
 
#5 - Will there be animals in Heaven?
 
We know all believers come back to earth with Christ on HORSES! We know the original creation was teaming with animals and it was, "Very good!" We know ALL of creation groans with anticipation of being made NEW again!  This includes all animals! We know they are a major part of the Kingdom God gave to us to rule and reign over! We know they are abundant in the Millennial Period!
 
#6 - Will I be able to have my pet in Heaven?
 
Not specified...But very possible... C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, Randy Alcorn all agree!
 
#7 - Do those in Heaven right now KNOW what is happening here?  Even care?
 
The rich man in Luke 16:19 begged Abraham to send Lazarus to his family on earth to convert them! The Martyrs of the Tribulation in Revelation 6:10, watched earth and asked Christ, "How long before You avenge us?" Loved ones who have passed on are not omniscient as God... Knowing and seeing all…But it IS Scripturally apparent…They KNOW US… And EVENTS of earth...And are very interested in our lives and destinies... It’s part of Jesus' Heart…Why would they NOT be interested? Don't pray or talk to them... Only God... But ask to give message?!
 
Remember this... When in doubt about anything unknown of Heaven...
Scriptures strongly point out that whatever you are questioning...Will always be better than now...Will always be connected to who you are…And the life you have always lived!
 
The Greatest part of Eternity in New Jerusalem is...
 
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV)
12  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
 
Our Jesus will let us know His heart... His Thoughts... His most intimate feelings... As clearly as HE KNOWS OURS!!! CAN YOU EVEN FATHOM WHAT A FASCINATING AND PRECIOUS PRIVILEGE THIS WILL BE? 
OR HOW INTIMATE, LOVING AND CLOSE OUR JESUS IS...IN ORDER TO BARE HIMSELF TO US IN SUCH A WAY?!!
 
THEN WE WILL GET A TASTE OF HOW DEEP AND PASSIONATE HIS LOVE IS FOR US... OF HOW MUCH HE TRULY SUFFERED TO SAVE US!
 
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)
9  But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
 
Revelation 22:12-21 (NKJV)
12  "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." 14  Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city... 16  "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." 17  And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. 18  For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19  and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20  He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
 
Do YOU say, “Come?” Do YOU anticipate, imagine and long for Him? Or are we too caught up in this world to care? Or even WANT His Return?
 
Take time to imagine these things…IF YOU ARE NOT READY… TODAY IS THE DAY!!!
 
TOMORROW MAY NOT COME!!!!!